Musical show ends Swat’s long night of terror

Show organised by Swat’s Rotary Club to revive suppressed culture virtually silenced by extremists.


Fazal Khaliq November 22, 2010

MINGORA: A cultural and musical show broke the long dark night of terror that had gripped the scenic valley of Swat for now almost three years. Once again Mingora, the social and economic hub of the Swat valley, resonated with the sound of music. The show was organised by Swat’s Rotary Club on Saturday to revive the suppressed culture of these areas that the extremists had virtually silenced turning the valley into a graveyard.

Representatives of every walk of life including singers, poets, actors and journalists attended the event.

The president of the Rotary Club, Dr Wajid, expressed his joy on seeing so many people together once again. “Bringing back peace and happiness in Swat valley is the main objective of our Club,” Wajid said.

Talking to The Express Tribune, a local journalist and writer Mahmood Rafiq Babu said, “Everything seems so nice tonight, people are happy and there is a lot of cultural exchange. One feels relaxed as there is no fear or tension; God has freed us from the suffocation of the past. This initiative by the Rotary Club will definitely help revive our lost culture”, he added.

Sardar Yousuf Zai, a famous Pashto singer who was attacked by the Taliban in November 2008, also performed in the show and said, “Music is the soul of every culture and the happiness everyone is feeling is evident from their faces. Our culture and civilisation, which was paralysed by the barbaric Taliban, is alive once again.

“We have been pushed around by the Taliban and now we have to rebuild our lives and culture. This will not be an individual effort and we all have to work collectively to promote it,” he said.

“I feel very much let down by the government, because they have not even bothered to offer support or even tried to help revive our culture,” he added.

Hazir Gul, a cultural analyst and activist of the area, told The Express Tribune, “The musical show tonight is a message to those forces which want to crush our cultural activities and customs. Fear and terror is not the solution,” he added.

He thanked the Rotary Club for breaking the silence and arranging the cultural night.

Mohammad Roshan, a professor of history and a member of civil society, said: “The music show in the city is the first attempt after three years of mayhem and disorder in our society to show that there was once a time when music was part of our daily lives. This cultural night has revived our society once again.”

People from Abbottabad also attended the show. The performances at the show were greatly appreciated by all.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 22nd, 2010.

COMMENTS (3)

Eng. Shaukat Khan | 13 years ago | Reply Salamona! Excellent program. May there be everlasting peace in Swat the beautiful place in Pakistan? Thanks a lot to all of you, and speacially Dr. Wajid Khan, for such a wonderful musical show. Keep it up! Best Regards, Eng. Shaukat Khan
Zulfiqar | 13 years ago | Reply positive step towards normalcy
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